Bhajiawala's lawyer files contempt plea against ED officials

The lawyer of city-based financier Jignesh Bhajiawala, arrested by Enforcement Directorate for allegedly laundering money after demonetisation, today filed a contempt of court application against the central agency's officials.
Advocate Chetan Pandya told judge A C Joshi of special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases that four or five ED officials threatened Bhajiawala's colleague who was present at ED office during the questioning of his client as per the court's direction.
During the interrogation yesterday, Bhajiawala was taken into a closed room by ED officials. His colleague Jatin Yadav, who was required to remain present at a 'visible but not audible' distance as per the court's direction, feared that ED officials misbehaved with Bhajiawala.

ED officials allegedly pressured Yadav to write in his report that he remained present at visible distance when Bhajiawala was questioned. Yadav refused, so ED officials threatened him using abusive language, according to Pandya's application demanding action for contempt of court.
The special court kept the matter for further hearing on February 7, while sending Bhajiawala in judicial custody after rejecting ED's plea for further seven-day remand.
ED is investigating Bhajiawala regarding source of new currency notes of Rs 1.02 crore seized from his possession post-demonetisation.
Bhajiawala family deposited Rs 3.62 crore in their bank accounts in cash, and most of deposits were made on November 10 and 11, the ED alleged.